Question Number: 24077

Law 11 - Offside 10/4/2010

RE: Adult Rec Adult

Ron of Hagerstown, MD USA asks...

I am a PIOP
My Keeper punts,throws,dropkicks the ball he gathered up from a play.
When that action took place I was PIOP.
While ball is in the air/moving forward,I move to the 2nd to last defender level and the ball deflects off of him (the 1st touch of the ball by anyone since the keeper), towards his goal. I then make a break on the ball and play it, Offsides?
Did I reset offsides by getting level before the deflection? (if not, what would it take for me who was the PIOP to no longer be/reset offsides)

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Offside is judged at the moment your teammate last touched the ball. At that point, you were in an OSP, and you cannot put yourself back onside. Only a controlled play by a defender or another touch by a teammate can reset the offside position for you.

In your scenario, you would be judged offside.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ron
What you describe is offside. Offside is judged the moment of the touch/play by your team mate in this case the punt by the goalkeeper. The deflection/rebound off the defender does not reset offside. For offside to be reset the opponents have to take control of the ball or it has to go out of play or an 'onside' player touches the ball which begins another phase of play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You were in an offside position when the ball was played so you cannot continue playing the ball until offside resets. It is reset by
1. The opponents control the ball
2. The ball goes out of play
3. The ball is touched or played by a member of your team

You CANNOT put yourself onside